Pope Leo XIV is currently making a landmark four-day apostolic journey to France from September 25 to 28, 2026. This marks the first official papal state visit to France in 18 years, attracting hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and widespread media attention across the country.
Key Itinerary & Highlights
* Friday, Sept 25 (Paris & Élysée Palace):
* Arrived at Orly Airport and met with President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace, where the Pope delivered a speech emphasizing diversity, solidarity, and peace.
* Visited the UNESCO headquarters to speak on the ethics and risks of artificial intelligence.
* Celebrated Vespers inside the fully restored Notre-Dame Cathedral—the first pope to pray inside the venue following its 2019 fire.
* Held a youth prayer vigil and evening celebration at the Stade de France.
* Saturday, Sept 26 (Paris Mass & Travel to Lourdes):
* Celebrated a massive outdoor Mass at Place de la Concorde, drawing an estimated 800,000 attendees lining the Champs-Élysées.
* Departed Paris for the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in southern France, praying at the Grotto of Massabielle in the evening.
* Sunday, Sept 27 (Lourdes Pilgrimage):
* Presiding over Mass on the Meadow at the Sanctuary of Lourdes.
* Meeting privately with survivors of clerical sexual abuse and delivering an address on the sanctity of life.
* Monday, Sept 28 (Metz & Departure):
* Final leg of the visit in Metz, including Mass at Saint-Étienne Cathedral and a speech highlighting European unity before returning to Rome.
Context of the Visit
The trip comes as French church leaders report a surprising uptick in adult converts and youth interest, despite France's long-standing tradition of strict secularism (laïcité). Pope Leo XIV's agenda has balanced spiritual support for local Catholics with public addresses on societal ethics, AI, European integration, and Church
accountability.
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